Microfungal Community Changes in Rodent Food Stores over Space and Time.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Microbiology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Microfungal communities inhabit food stores of various rodent species.
• Environmental factors like climate and disturbance influence these communities.
• Interactions between rodents and microbes shape fungal diversity within dens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate temporal changes in microfungal communities in rodent food stores.
• To determine the impact of location, disturbance, and animal vectors on fungal diversity.
• To understand microbial interactions and dispersal mechanisms within rodent dens.

Main Methods:

• Sampling microfungal communities from food stores of three rodent species across two climatically distinct locations.
• Analyzing microfungal diversity and composition over time.
• Utilizing standardized sorghum seed substrates to assess microbial convergence.

Main Results:

• Microfungal diversity was highest in frequently disturbed areas of food stores.
• Animal vectors, rather than air currents, were more effective in dispersing microbial propagules.
• Standardized substrates showed convergence in microfungal composition over time within dens.

Conclusions:

• Rodent food stores exhibit dynamic microfungal communities influenced by disturbance and dispersal.
• Animal vectors play a significant role in microbial dispersal, leading to community homogenization.
• Rodents may actively or passively facilitate the convergence of microfungal communities in their food stores over time.